Japan Sharpens Rhetoric on China, Calling It 'Assertive' for First Time

By

Yoree Koh

August 3, 2011

Japan intensified its rhetoric against China's military, accusing Beijing for the first time of "assertiveness" and saying it needs to keep a closer watch on how China views the contested waters between the two countries.

Japanese government officials stressed that the new language—contained in an annual white paper released Tuesday and approved by the cabinet of Prime Minister Naoto Kan—shouldn't be seen as a cause for alarm. "This is one way of expressing our hope that China will address these issues...